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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Spanish fiestas use a variety of words peculiar to individual fiestas and here are some of them: we will be glad to hear from you if you know of any more, which you certainly will.
arcabucería the firing of arquebusses and blunderbusses during Moors & Christian festivals.
baile = dance
bandas = a musical group or an official notice
banderas = flags, sometimes used in folklore dancing
barraca popular = outside party, often in a marquee with music and dancing
barrio = district of a town
Belen = Nativity scene
bellas/bellezas = beauty queens
cabalgata = parade, usually of horses
carnaval = carnival
carrozas = coaches or carts
castillo = castle
castillo de fuegos artificiales = firework display
cofradia = a guild or brotherhood
comparsa = a group in a festival
Contrabandistas = pirate group in Moors & Christian festivals
concurso = competiton
Cremá = burning of the hogueras or fallas
damas de honor = maids of honour for beauty queen
danzas populares típicas = traditional dancing
desembarco = disembarkation of Moors
desfile = parade
diana = early morning reveille
disparos de arcabucería = firing of guns
disfraces = fancy dress costumes
Embajada = Ambassador of Moors or Christians
entrada = entrance
Encuentro = meeting, usually in Semana Santa processions
Entierro de la Sardina = burial of the sardine representing Lent
fallas = paper and wood figures to be burnt in bonfire (see hogueras, fogueras)
feria = fair
fiestas patronales = town's patronal festival
fogueres = paper and wood figures for burning (also niñots)
hermanidad = brotherhood or guild
hogueras = paper and wood figues for burning
mascletas = fire crackers exploding in line.
Mig Any/Media Año = this denotes a mid-year fiesta six months before the main one.
Moros y Cristianos = Moors and Christians parades, battles
ninots = name of figures in the fallas or hogueras
Nochebuena = Christmas Eve
Nochevieja = New Year's Eve
novena = nine -usually religious connotation of nine days of prayer
ofrenda de flores = flower offering
pasacalles = parade through the streets
pasodobles = music and dance associated with bulls
Pastoretes = shepherds in Christmas celebrations
penitente = penitent in Semana Santa parades
petardo = firecracker
pregón = opening speech for fiestas
procesión marinera = sea procession of boats
Reina = queen of fiestas
retreta = retreat of armies during Moors & Christian fiestas
romería = pilgrimage, often in caravans
Semana Santa = Holy Week
suelta de cohetes = Rocket fireworks released
suelta de vaquillas = bulls released, usually in streets.
Taurina = bull events
tambores = drums
tiroteos = firing of guns
verbenas populares = small, usually free, evening meal and gathering
Virgen = Virgin Mary, listed under hundreds of names.
SEPTEMBER FIESTAS
This month sees more fiestas in honour of the Virgen de Loreto and the Virgen del Rosario, with many local fiestas in the Vega Baja area.
1 - 4th Sept. Castalla holds main fiestas of Moors & Christians.
1 - 8th Sept. Santa Pola has patronal fiestas of the Virgen de Loreto.
Patronal fiestas at Sanet y Negrals.
3 - 4th Sept. Biar holds el Día del Cólera.
4 - 9th Sept. Moors & Christians in Villena.
5 - 9th Sept. The Virgen del Socorro, patroness of fishermen, is honoured in the Raval Roig district of Alacant.
Patronal fiestas in Agres.
First Sunday of month Moors & Christians take to the streets of Adsubia. On the first weekend the Fadrins festival is held in Adsubia.
Patronal fiestas in Tormos.
First weekend of the month traditional dancing in Benilloba
Banyares de Mariola holds Festa de la Reliquia.
Saint Thomas is honoured in Altea.
A romería in Castel de Castells for the Virgen de Petracos.
Festival of Moscatell in Teulada.
Patronal fiestas in Gorga.
The second week Moors & Christians in the patronal fiestas of Aigües.
From 1st Wednesday of the month until a week later on the Thursday, Moors & Christians in Ibi.
6 - 8th Mutxamel hold fiestas.
Patronal fiestas in Orihuela.
6 - 10th Moors & Christians in Benejama.
Patronal fiestas of Monòvar.
6 - 18th Elda holds main fiestas with special events on the 8th and 9th.
7th Sept. Daya Vieja hold patronal fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora de Montserrate.
Patronal fiestas in Jacarilla.
7 - 10th Montforte del Cid holds festival of Virgen de Orito.
Second weekend Benifallim holds the Fadrins festival with a Blessed Bread parade.
Gaianes holds the patronal fiestas.
8th Guardamar de Segura has fiestas in honour of the Virgen de Fátima.
Moors & Christians in the patronal fiestas at Redován.
9th - 12th Moors & Christian fiestas in Mutxamel.
On the weekend nearest to the 9th September the Festa de Les Copletes is held in L'Alfàs del Pi.
11th Sept. "El Socarrat" is celebrated in Monóvar.
12 - 16th Greater fiestas of Cristo de la Paz held in San Juan de Alicante.
14 - 17th Fallas de San Pedro in Elda.
14 - 22nd Novelda has fiestas in the La Garrova district.
15th Sept. Sax has the Fiesta de la Virgen de los Frutos.
Xàbia holds the Fiesta de la Virgen del Popul.
Fleix (Vall de Laguart) holds their greater fiestas.
The weekend following this date the people of Dolores hold their patronal fiestas.
Middle of the month Teulada celebrates the Fiesta de la Divina Pastora.
21 - 23rd Santa Cecilia festival in Alfafara.
The 3rd Sunday a romería to the Sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de la Font Roja at Alcoy.
Patronal fiestas in Beniaya (Vall d'Alcalà)
Orxeta has patronal fiestas
On the 3rd week patronal fiestas with Moors & Christians in Altea.
La Xara (Dénia) holds fiestas in honour of San Mateo.
27 - 29th Redovan has the Romería a la Virgen de la Salud.
29th San Miguel de Salinas holds patronal fiestas.
The weekend nearest this feast of Saint Michael the Archangel fiestas in Ibi.
Also in La Villajoyosa, Gata de Gorgos and Benifallim.
Moors & Christians parade in L'Alquería d'Asnar.
Fiestas of Daya Vieja.
29th Sept. - 7th October Patronal fiestas in San Fulgencio.
30th Sept. Benferri has celebrations in honor of San Jerónimo.
Last Sunday of the month Cristo de las Campanas is held in Almoradí.
Last weekend of the month Patronal fiestas held in Relleu from Friday night to the following Tuesday.
Moors, Christians, Romans and Carthaginians
During this month the people of many towns that have had a busy summer either through the tourist trade or through collecting harvests, now have the opportunity to relax and celebrate for themselves. The majority of Spanish holidaymakers have now left the Costa Blanca, although the high season still goes on. This is the time of the year when many foreigners come for long stays and there are still many typical Spanish fiestas for everyone to enjoy. It is advisable to seek dates and hours from local tourist offices as often fiesta details are altered at the last minute.
September is a month where most of the fiestas are related to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. Many non-Catholics fail to understand that the plethora of feasts dedicated to virgins are mostly dedicated to the same lady - the Mother of Jesus. Every town has its own special feast dedicated to her under a multitude of titles.
The 8th is the Feast of Mary´s birth and in Agres (from 7th - 10th) Our Lady of the Castle fiestas are held in her honour. During these fiestas there is a representation of the shepherds and the Virgin Mary.
Orihuela celebrates on the 8th September with a Romeria from the sanctuary of the Virgen de Montserrat to the cathedral. For the few days preceding this there will be the International Folklore Gathering with dancers, singers and artistes from many countries performing traditional offerings. More information from Orihuela Tourist Office.
Jacarilla also hold fiestas on this date in honour of Nuestra Señora del Belén, normally with a bell-ringing session at mid-day followed by the usual fireworks and in the evening a floral offering at the church. Then of course the dancing, drinking, dining and other events one would expect to find.
Dolores is another Vega Baja town that continues from a busy August its celebratations this month the town's patronal feast of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in the middle of the month. Each day has its own programme, which includes an evening Solemn Mass, followed by a procession of carriages and a communal meal. Traditional dresses and suits have made a come-back in recent years and these can be seen at most of the fiestas throughout the year.
ROMANS VERSUS CARTHAGINIANS
Cartagena is an ancient Murcian city that has much to offer the tourists with its Roman remains and a long but deeply interesting history. The city is strategically placed with a deep bay protected by promontories making a stronghold since the time of the Carthaginians under Asdrúbal who gave it its name as Quart Haddast - Nuevo Cartagena.
The Romans captured it and there are many signs of their occupation including part of the original city walls and the ruined Castillo de la Concepción. In recent years more archaeological discoveries from various epochs have been unearthed.
This rich cultural background was offered to the tourist in a Plan de Dinamizacion that was ongoing until November 2001. Because of this imitative forgotten treasures have been dusted off for public viewing and more reconstruction work done on old remains, including the Punic Wall that was discovered in 1989 with its origins dating back to 227 B.C. a strong, silent witness of the original Carthaginians. Alongside this is a symbol of how succeeding generations and civilisations build on what has gone before. In this case a Benedictine cemetery of the 17th century. This has led to the development of the tourist sector of Cartagena as the gateway to two civilisations.
During the last two weeks of September the battles between Scipio's Rome and Carthage are re-enacted each year in a festival where a Roman encampment is built with typical Roman market, tabernas and many other Roman institutions. Hundreds of the townspeople take sides dressing up as Roman legionnaires or Carthaginian troops with parades and mock battles as when the Roman, Publio Corneilo Escipion, conquered the city in 209AD.
A truce is made which binds both nations through marriage and the fiestas include a theatrical display of the marriage between royal Roman blood and a Carthaginian princess Anibal and Hilice, bringing a time of peace to the city. As well as the daily parades of soldiers the visitor is treated to a spectacle in the Roman Circus.
Fortresses hold Moors & Christian at bay
Moors & Christian battles still continue this month with some being held on the first weekend at Banyeres de Mariola; Santa Pola the first week of September; Villena from 4th - 9th; Crevillente from 24th September to 5th October. Many Spanish fortresses were built by the Moors, while others were used as frontier towns between the various Christian kingdoms.
In Benidorm a music festival and the building of a castle are held at the end of the month in expectation of the Moors & Christian fiestas during the beginning of October. The actual fiestas held in the first week of October start with a morning reveille (Diana) and in the afternoon a show is staged with the Entry of the Moors & Christians. The second day also starts with a Diana and a flower offering to the patron saint, San Jaime. The Moorish fleet disembarks and an ambassador meets with the Christians and then the deafening Battle of the Blunderbusses begins with the Christian King finally winning the day and occupying the castle.
For those who would like to see a Moors & Christian festival the toy-making town of Ibi holds their fiestas in honour of la Virgen de los Desamparados from the 2nd Sunday of the month through to the third week of September. Celebrations begin from early morning with a diana (morning breakfast) as groups from the comparsas parade the streets in all their fierce finery. Moors & Christians march daily through the streets dressed in all heir fine costumes.
From 4th - 9th of September the spectacular fiestas of Villena take place. If you speak of Moors & Christians you talk about Villena where the fiestas are considered to be of National Touristic Interest. Of the 32,000 inhabitants 15,000 take part in these patronal fiestas dedicated to the Virgen de las Virtudes. This festival dates back to 1474 when the Virgen was proclaimed patroness because of her protection during the plague. A sanctuary was built in 1490 about seven kilometres outside the town and her image installed. Each year in March and on 8th September there is a romeria pilgrimage to the shrine. The texts used by the Ambassadors in the Moors & Christian fiestas go back to the early 19th century. 14 comparsas or groups take part in the parades, 7 of these are Moros, some of whom march a pasodoble to music first played in 1907.
For visitors Villena is an old city crowned with a stupendous Arab built castle, La Atalaya, around which the town has grown. The origins of the town date back further than that with cave remains going as far back as 50,000 years. The castle was built on the ruins of an Iberian settlement and the ancient town centre is the most important part for the sightseer with a visit to the local archaeological museum a must.
Guardamar de Segura also hold celebrations in the small village of El Campico near C. Quesada: these are mostly of a religious nature on the 8th September in honour of Our Lady of Fatima. However, there are verbenas, theatrical events, bicycle race, paella competition, and the traditional lemon dance «el baile del limón». It is an area surrounded by orange and lemon groves.
A legend from Russia
Most places that honour Our Lady of Fatima do so on 13th October. There are now several thousand Russians living on the Costa Blanca and they have their own little story connected with the appearance of the Virgin at Fatima in 1917.
During the 800's two Greek monks, Cyril and Methodius, brought Christianity to Russia. The most famous icon in Russia is that of Our Lady of Kazan which came from Constantinople to the monastery at Kazan in the former Mongolian Empire. By 1101 the icon was revered throughout Russia and Russian pilgrims travelled vast distances to venerate the Virgin Mary who is seen holding her infant son for all to worship. In 1209 the city of Kazan was conquered and the city and monastery destroyed, the icon lost. 375 years later on July 8th, 1579, the Virgin Mary appeared to a nine-year old girl, Matrona, who said the lady stood on a cloud and she told the child where to find the icon. The girl told adults and they dug in the rubble of the monastery where she indicated and lo and behold, there was the icon.
It was placed in a convent built for it by the Czar and was known as the Liberatrix and Protectress of Holy Mother Russia. Peter the Great carried the icon as his banner and when he transferred the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the icon went with him. When Napoleon attacked Russia and was defeated the people put it down to the intercession of Our Lady of Kazan. During the reign of Alexander II a magnificent basilica, modelled after St. Peter's in Rome, was constructed in Moscow in what we know today as Red Square.
When the great Revolution of 1917 came the Bolsheviks recognised the position the image held in the hearts of the people and they destroyed the basilica on 13th October, 1917. While this was happening on the same day, 13th October, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared on a cloud similar to the Kazan icon, to children at Fatima in Portugal and told them that "Russia will spread errors and terrors worldwide. In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. Russia will be converted and a period of peace will be given the world".
Somehow that icon had been removed from the basilica and was later found in England and today is revered in Fatima. The Patriarch of Moscow and Russia, Aleksey II, told a delegation of Christian pilgrims on October 13th, 1992 that the Russian people were aware of the Fatima message and this had given them hope and he looked forward to the icon's return so that the people of Russia will once again know peace. Nothing particularly to do with Spanish fiestas, but it is interesting background to the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
In Peñiscola from 7th - 16th local fiestas include the building of human towers with groups of men standing on each others' shoulders building pyramids, competing against each other to build the highest tower with the most people. During this week there are also Moors & Christian parades in this town where Charlton Heston played Spain's national hero in the film El Cid, with Moors landing on the magnificent beaches and storming the castle. From 6th - 15th in Utiel there are other festivities, which includes a wine pavilion.
El altet and Saint Francis of Assisi
For those south of Alicante airport the by-pass road with its tunnel is a boon that obviates going through the small hamlet of El Altet where one was often held up in the main road by the annual September processions.
At the end of September and into the first week of October, the townsfolk of El Altet enjoy the patronal fiestas of San Francisco de Asís. The principal day is on the saint's day the 4th October with a carnival parade in the late afternoon followed by coca and zurra. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes. A Floral Offering is made on the following day and of course each day there is wining and dining with music and dancing.
On the first Sunday of the month, Gorga celebrates Our Lady of the Holy Sepulchre with a performance of her appearance. During the first two weeks of this month there is a rice harvest festival held in the town of Sueca.
Crisply Elda's bonfires burn for their saints
If you have never seen the fires of the fallas then you can see them in Elda from 15th to 18th September. Each year the Elda fiestas take on more importance as the people celebrate in honour of their patrons San Crispin and San Crispiniano. In 2003 some 30,000 kilos of pasteboard and wood had gone into the twenty fallas that went up in flames. One aspect of these fiestas is to see the exemplary traditional costumes of the people as lovely women wear beautifully crafted costumes. 2008 will be the 79th anniversary of the town's fiestas.
The Central point is the Barracón where many local pubs organise nightly fiestas of live music in a communal area. A chess competition will be running during the fiesta days and children have their own bouncy castle and other attractions. Fallas are set up from 13th for the heat of the night of La Cremá on the 16th.
St. Michael Rules - OK?
The small town of San Miguel de Salinas was described in a tourist book as a small town where one can expect to meet a flock of sheep in the street. This no longer applies as the town now has busy one-way streets and many urbanisations. This month begins the patronal fiestas in honour of San Miguel (the Archangel). During the last two weeks of September and into the first few days of October there are many events held with the usual Barraca Popular set up as the centre of musical concerts to suit all tastes. The saint's feast day is held on the 29th with a solemn evening procession followed by - yes, you have guessed it - fireworks.
Santa Pola will be celebrating the Virgen del Loreto fiestas that will be from the end of August to the 9th September. As elsewhere the majority of the immense influx of summer visitors has gone and the town returns to a certain degree of normality. This means having a fiesta. Our Lady of Loreto is associated with the defeat of the Turks by the Christian armies and navies so it is a double motive that she reigns over these annual fiestas of the Moors and Christians.
Moors disembark at this fishing town and conquer it, then the Christians reconquer the town around the castle fortress that dates back to 1557.
Extravagant costumes marks the parades with colourful painted face masks and feathers on the part of the Moors, while the Christians march in procession with their guns and cannons.
The finely dressed ambassadors of both armies parley and eventually the Christian army conquers. Santa Pola offers one of the most magnificent firework displays along the coast that light up the sky and which can be seen right across the nearby salt flats.
Each evening there will be celebrations in the kabilas, cuartelillos and barracas that are set up in the streets including live music, dancing and concerts. During the week other local people hold the parade of the Multicolor Comparsas y Carrozas that has been going on since 1880 with floats and costumed groups dancing and parading. In the parade ground of the castle will be the traditional serenade to the Virgen de Loreto and a marvellous flower offering. There is a Mountain Bike competition, basketball games, futbito, volleyball and other sporting activities. On the night of the 8th, the actual feastday, there will be a tremendous firework display on the last night by the water's edge.
During these fiestas there are many other activities with sporting competitions, children's games and competitions, and the fabulous floral procession as individuals and groups carry flowers in a procession of bright flowers to be laid at the feet of the image of the patroness of the town.
A very old legend relates how the image of the Virgen de Loreto arrived in Santa Pola in 1643 and this is commemorated on the 10th December each year.
Redovan is an inland town that is also looking to lighten up its tourist image and each year there are many activities during September in honour of the Virgen de la Salud on 16th, and San Miguel on the 22nd. Each year a Barraca Popular is opened up that is the centre of many events and concerts in the evenings. On the 7th there is a carnival style parade through the town, about 21.00, followed by a concert. On the Virgen's feastday of the 8th September a solemn procession is held, followed by a firework display, and a concert at a verbena.
During the fiestas there is a competition of drums and cornets held as these instruments take a central position in the town's fiestas. A romeria is held on the 16th to the nearby Sanctuary. On the 22nd a full programme of events is held all day with workshops, sports, competitions, rock concert, and a verbena in the evening. San Miguel's actual feast day is the 29th and there is a spectacular fireworks display at night.
NAME DAYS
It is nice to wish someone "Happy fiesta - Feliz dia" of simply "felicidades" when it is their name day. Name days are a tradition of attaching personal names to each day of the year, and celebrating the association of particular days with those for whom that day is named. It is common in large parts of Europe and especially in Spain and other Christian countries. The tradition originates from the Christian church calendar and the tradition to name children after saints whose feast is celebrated on a particular day. You can often tell when it is a Spaniard's birthday, as his name will give it away. For example, José (or Pepe) will be somewhere close to the 19th March the feast of Saint Joseph (José), Carmen will be near to the 16th July The Virgen del Carmen feast of sailors and fishermen. Noelia will likely be close to Christmas. A good web to consult is:
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